PT Drama and New Shoes

Today was my first appointment with my new Physical Therapist. Bob was recommended by both Dr. Ellis and Mark (my pre-surgical PT). He has over 20 years experience with a focus on feet and seems to also have experience with nerve issues.

Had a minor bit of drama at the beginning of my appointment when the therapist I had seen on my last two sessions wanted to know why I wasn't seeing him and implied that since he had done my initial evaluation I was supposed to be his patient. How does one nicely say that he was a place-holder until Bob returned from vacation and had he been the therapist I was assigned to, I'm not sure we would have been a good fit?

Nothing against the first PT, I am sure he is very competent, but he had me doing a few minor exercises like rolling my ankle, pointing and flexing my foot, and using a dog leash to pull my foot and stretch my calf - all without weight bearing. They are all good basic exercises, but he also talked about taking it slow and not doing anything more strenuous then the bicycle until the swelling in my ankle had dissipated. In contrast, Bob jumped in with two new floor stretches as well as two new bed stretches specifically designed to remind my nerves they go all the way down to my foot. He's pushing me to run through the routine at least 5 times a day.

Bob is doing what I really wanted and needed, which is treating me like one of their athlete patients. Though it was a bit disheartening to hear him say it could still be months before I would be discharged from PT. After two years, two surgeries and too many physical therapists to name, I am getting tired of the whole process!

The only complaint I have is the same one I had with Carlos, but hadn't realized until I saw Christine. Because it is a large facility the therapists see more than one patient at a time - though this seems to be two at a time as opposed to Carlos' schedule of four. But it still means the PT is jumping between patients, meaning both that my appointment doesn't begin on time (Bob didn't come get me from the waiting room until 15 minutes after my scheduled start) and that I am left alone to run through a set of exercises and then twiddle my thumbs until the therapist returns.

On the plus side, Bob could push my foot past neutral today. In fact, when Bob pushed, my left foot flexed further then my right could on it's own. He also said my heel pain, recurrent blister and calf cramps are from my foot having spent so long in the equine position - and that the pain is likely to get worse as I begin wearing sneakers full time this weekend. I am now trying coconut water to help with the cramps.

After PT I did something I haven't done in a very long time - I went shoe shopping! Admittedly it was for sneakers, but beggars and all that. Earlier this week it occurred to me that all my sneakers (by all I mean my two, possibly three, pairs) are designed for walking or cross-training, and as such they have built-in heel lifts. So today I spoke to Steve, Dr. Ellis' PA, and confirmed I needed flat sneakers - Bob actually recommended earth shoes, but not until I'm a bit further along. So I went to DSW and picked up a pair of red polka-dot Keds and gray Roxy Castaway high tops.

The negative of moving from air-cast boot to sneaker is that my walking speed - already fairly slow - will, for  awhile, become sloth-like. Always something to look forward to!

Returning to Routines

I am starting to feel normal again. I still have the neuropathy (now that I've started sleeping without the elastic bandage I have noticed it is affecting my entire foot from the ankle down). I'm still wearing the bondage boot (with more walking comes the awareness that the top strap hits my upper shin right at my knee joint and puts an odd pressure on my knee). I am still afraid of my shower (I have managed a couple showers without slipping by being overly cautious). But, I feel like I am taking back my life.

I have started walking around the apartment without the aid of the cane - haven't told Marco or Dr. Hubbard. More importantly, a week after my walking restrictions were lifted, I have started getting out of the house.

When I'm home I always feel better if I can get out of the apartment for some part of every day. Doesn't matter if it is taking a walk with my camera, or meeting friends or colleagues for coffee (or Chai). Fresh air and not being surrounded by my four walls can help calm me and I can often return home with a better focus for my current projects.

So for the past two days, despite the cold rainy weather, I have walked the two blocks to the bus and gone to my favorite coffee place. Today I even brought my net book and am writing this post with a Chai latte and blueberry muffin.

Getting out of the house has also created a return to a more interesting sociology observation - mentally tracking the gender, age and ethnicity of people who offer me a seat on the bus. I have always been interested in the question of whether it is lack of courtesy or obliviousness that causes people to ignore others in greater need of a seat on a bus or subway. I observed this when my mother was noticeably ill with her cancer and have continued with my own time on crutches or boots and friends pregnancies. Ethnicity seems to play the smallest role, while overwhelmingly it is women over 30 who will offer their seats. Of men, it tends to be those over 50 who will offer a seat with those in their 20's and 30's least likely to move. It would be interesting to see if these observations are universal or simply here. Anyone want to fund trips to all major cities with a mass transit system? I will happily play guinea pig.

For now, I am simply happy to be expanding my world to beyond the loft and the doctor's office. I see Dr. Hubbard again in a week and Dr. Williams has recommended a neurologist if my neuropathy doesn't start to get recede.

The scar itself, still looks red and angry, and while I have it uncovered in the shower I have only  washed it directly with a gentle washcloth. Today is a big day for my foot and scar as I covered it with gauze, but went without the elastic wrap, which also means I am getting a better idea of how the neuropathy is impacting my foot. What I really want is someone to tell me I'm going to get back into my pretty shoes and not spend my life in hiking boots, sneakers and flats!

Balance Board Catch and High Heels

Just trying to stay on the balance board wasn't enough for Matt. Today I had to stand on the balance ball and throw and catch a ball. Multitasking at it's PT best.

We also got into a discussion about high heels. I wasn't even thinking about blogging it, until Matt said he had to think about what he was saying for fear it would end up here.

I have never been one of those "Sex & the City" type women who live in their stilettos. I love my heels, but I usually carried them in a bag and wore them for short periods at specific events. Matt agrees with my old Podiatrist that they are really not good for me as they force the knee to bend - helping to give your legs that look that women love their high heels for, but wreaking havoc on joints. For a woman who has now had three knee surgeries in the last quarter century, that's probably not a good thing.

I agree in theory, but . . . they're pretty and they help me feel pretty when I wear them. So, I may scale back my collection and look at more wedges and stacked heels over stilettos, but don't hold your breath that I'll give them all up.

Matt also helped me think about some of the questions I need to focus on for my Dr. W appointment. I've said before I was told my knees were fragile after my last surgeries. I spent years in fear and babying them (perhaps not as much as I should have). What does this new surgery really mean for my activities? I'm not saying I want to go ski black diamonds, but having a better understanding of my real limitations would be nice. Things to think about before Tuesday.